Oscar Predictions 2018

The 2018 Oscars are finally upon us, and like past years I will be predicting most of the categories. There is a bit of intrigue around this years awards. While some of the acting categories seem to be sure things, the best picture race is down to about 3 serious contenders. In past years, the academy awards have been a bit unpredictable, and I’m sure this year’s show will have its share of surprises as well.

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Blade Runner 2049Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2Kong: Skull IslandStar Wars: The Last JediWar for the Planet of the Apes

I think that Blade Runner 2049 will clean up a lot of the smaller categories in the fashion that Mad Max Fury Road did a few years back. I wouldn’t be all that upset or surprised if War for The Planet of the Apes took this one though.

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Blade Runner 2049Darkest HourDunkirkMudboundThe Shape of Water

The two major storylines here are Rachel Morrison being the first woman ever nominated for this award and Roger Deakins getting his 14th nomination having went home empty in each of his previous nominations, which are both pretty crazy. I think that Deakins will win here and is more than deserving for his work on BR2049.

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

Beauty and the BeastBlade Runner 2049Darkest HourDunkirkThe Shape of Water

The Shape of Water will probably end up being a big winner throughout the night and this is one of the awards I expect it to go home with. Beauty and the Beast and Blade Runner 2049 will also be major contenders here.

This is probably the tightest race of the night as I can see just about everyone of these films winning. If I had to choose I would put my money on Three Billboards, but also Lady Bird, Get Out and The Shape of Water have fantastic screenplays. This was definitely a great year for writing. Personally I’d love to see Lady Bird win.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

I think for a while this was a two person race between Janney and Metcalf, the two best on screen mothers of the year. As the awards season has went on, Janney has become the odds on favorite and will probably walk away with the award.

BEST ACTRESS

This is another fairly easy race to predict as Frances McDormand all but has the award wrapped up already for her fantastic turn in Three Billboards.

BEST PICTURE

Call Me By Your Name
Darkest Hour
Dunkirk
Get Out
Lady Bird
Phantom Thread
The PostThe Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

This a race between Three Billboards, The Shape of Water, Lady Bird, and Get Out. Three Billboards has won quite a bit on the awards circuit so far this year which makes it a serious contender. Get Out was the most buzzed about in the category. Lady Bird is just a perfectly written coming of age movie, and I wouldn’t be upset at all if it won. However when I was watching The Shape Of Water for the first time I couldn’t help, but imagine it being the film labled Best Picture for 2018. Guillermo Del Toro’s fairy tale gets its fairy tale ending.